The Portland daily press., 1887-07-11
BASE BALL.
New England League !.
IMpoRrANr CHANCES.


Matters are at an interesting point in the
New England League. AT the meeting held
in Boston week ago Haverhill and Law
renee rendered their designations and an
nounced that after last Saturdays game
they would withdraw from the league. Their
designations were accepted and it was the in
tention to revise the schedule and run the
league with only six clubs, allowing Salem
and Lynn to have such players from Law
renee and Hayerhill as committee chosen
for that purpose should decide that they
were in need Of, and to allow Salem to start
on the same percentage with Lynn. But the
management Of the Haverhills and Boston
Blues have put their heads together and the
result is that they have decided to transfer
the Blues from Boston to Haverhill and lei
the present Haverhill team 90, reseIying
such players as they want for the new team.
This has evidently riled President Knox Of
the Lawrences and Saturday he telegraphed
for the Portlands to come as usual today for
the Lawrenees would not disband. The Sec
retary Of the league, however, had sent re-
vised schedule to the Portlands for this week
which did not call for game in Lawrence,
so Manager Spence had let some Of his men
go away till Tuesday. Consequently they
will not go to Lawrence today.
The action of the Haverhill and Boston
management is rather singular for people
who pretend to know base ball. The consti-
tuition Of the National Agreement distinctly
says that person cannot own in two clubs,
and also that franchise cannot be trans
ferred from one city to another without the
unanimous consent of the clubs in the league.
But the management Of the two clubs have
them and to take the Blues to Hayerhill.
record and all. thus allowing club to play
out the schedule of one club, starting with
the record OF another. No doubt
the transfer Of the Blues to
Haverhill win be q good thing for the
league, but it is rather queer method OF
bringing the thing about. In the face Of the
national rules under which the league Is play
ing, the owners of one franchise buy anoth-
er, consolidated the two clubs, take the rec
ord that suits them best, play where they
choose and then announce what they have
done before consulting the other clubs In the
league. A meeting will be held in Boston
this evening and stormy time is expected.
The fact that one vote will prevent the trans
fer of the franchise, may serve 70 make the
change as now planned rather difficult one
to make, and probably enough Of the other
clubs will object to the Blues taking their
record with them If they go, If thought best.
The meeting tonight will decide whether
Lawrence is to stay in or out An attempt
will undoubtedly be made to hold them to
their resignation as the club pays nothing
but the guarantee at home and does not draw
in other places. If they do retain their hold,
the schedule will be arranged for seven clubs
as Salem is now in the hands of parties who
propose to run a good club.
Whatever is done, the league will be much
improved as the weak clubs Will be strength
ened and better games may be expected. II
Haverhill should get the Blues and their per-
centage they will be next to.Portland and an
exciting contest between the two may be ex-
pected. Ii the games that have been played
by the Lawrence and old Haverhill clubs are
dropped from the standing, it will make some
difference in the relative position of the
| clubs, but it is yet uncertain what will
| be done in this respect.
LAwRENcEs, II; PoRTLANDs, o.
A fair sized crowd of people were at the
| grounds Saturday afternoon to see the las
| appearance of the Lawrences for the season.
The regular umpire was again absent anC
| Quinn Of the Portland team again ofliciated
He did splendidly, and his judgment O
balls and strikes was very satisfactory.
was fairly interesting game, the hits anC
| errors by both mines being about equal, bu
/ the Lawrences punched theirs and won thI
| game. Clarkson had an off day and wa
| wild, giving Duffy all he wanted to hold him
| Turner, the new Lawrence pitcher, although
| wild, pitched good game. He'has som'
sharp curves and ought to develope into